Page 6 of Theo's Forever Love

“We’ll be at your dad’s in fifteen.” Anthony confirmed. “I kinda guessed you’d agree anyway. Jesse normally had a big mouth on these kinda of details but for some reason Sugarloaf Knob Mountain remained a secret.” He chuckled as I shook my head. “I wonder why that is.” I let my mind drift at those thoughts before shaking my head at Anthony’s gruff tone echoing back through the speaker. “We’ll see you soon. We have a long drive I’m guessing and a lot of talking and catching up to do… especially around my little brother.”

“Well…,” I began.

“There’s no getting out of this,” Anthony interrupted, “I think it’s long overdue.”

“I guess it is…,” I mumbled under my breath as we cut the line and I decided on my plan of action.

My dad needed to know exactly what was happening so he wasn’t worried and I needed to pack as if I was going to be out in the wilderness for a few days as I know Anthony wouldn’t have thought outside of the box and logistically about getting this girl home. I was the exchange option in the car and therefore I needed to be prepared for all eventualities. It had given me a few crucial minutes as I rushed around the house gathering items to collect myself and to comprehend what had just happened in that call.

My ex’s brother was on his way to my dad’s house with a car full of people. People that I didn’t know. I would have a long journey and time with these people, and knowing Anthony he will make sure they get to know me. To top it all off by even taking the guys here and revealing this spot to them I could be completely screwing anything tiny that Jesse could value in me—if that could potentially even exist—as I would be directing them to my ex’s and I’s special secret place which he has obviously not revealed to anyone.It would be like twisting a dagger into his heart even though I was only trying to protect and make amends.

I really am a complete fuck up… but I couldn’t not help given the situation. I just hope Jesse see’s that point too.

CHAPTER 7

Jesse

Sugarloaf Knob Mountain was the vacation spot I needed to be at. It gave me the calmness and tranquillity away from everyone and a place to ground myself from reality as I re-centred my body and heart. I forgot how I came to find this place and that if anyone wanted to come out here and find me, they couldn’t, even if they wanted to. I mean apart from Theo, himself! Ha! That wasn’t going to happen, though.

The off beaten track area that Theo and I always spent time in was a little calm spot which didn’t see many other visitors but gave us the perfect view of everyone else. The fact I’d finally pushed myself to actually come away and have this vacation, felt like a soothing balm to my whole mind, soul and body. I’d never been prouder of giving myself this much needed kick, I would have usually retreated back into myself and the sick bowl of the toilet after the extreme alcohol from the guy's idea of a fun night out. At least my wild imagination of strippers didn’t come true. Thank fuck for that! I knew I wouldn’t have coped with that yet.

I’d planned to spend two weeks exploring the area—just like I used to do when I came here in the past—enjoy the tranquillity and time alone without a care or thought of what was around me, using only a wilderness guide for two specific tricky climbs and mountain areas, so I had my safety covered and legal requirements met. Recently I had discovered that due to the rocky terrain and unfamiliar trails of these two areas it had been governed by officials that no one could now explore these areas anymore unless you went with a hired wilderness guide who had done all the mountain back and safety training who was required for trecherous terrain climbs like this. Otherwise, the landscape would have become a place of forgotten beauty and unseen glory if some of the panel had gotten their way and the majority hadn’t ruled the way it had. That would have been a shame for the many visitors that passed through these parts each year—and of course myself.

I decided that it was an important step whilst being out here that I had my wilderness training renewed—something that Theo had expressed that I did when we first came up to these parts and began exploring them. At first, I hadn’t understood the reasoning until I had gotten further into the climb and realized how steep and dangerous these areas were. Then I was all for it. When I think about it now, knowing exactly the full course and places you can go to from here, it had settled a part of my mind that these precautions had now been introduced, especially after an incident a few months back when someone wandered off the track and got lost. Thankfully, they were quickly found due to a scheduled tour that had happened a few hours later. I daren’t think about what could have potentially occurred especially as they weren’t prepared to be in that area. I mean, it’s one of the key things I’d remind anyone who wants to explore and hike out in the outdoors now, you’re always best to over prepare than not have something of importance—all thanks to a great teacher. I couldn’t help but gulp harshly at his image that hit my mind of that sexy grin beaming back at me when I’d mastered something right in his eyes. How things have changed so much and so quickly.

I couldn’t believe how quickly the days had passed by though as I made my way to the ranger’s station two days before leaving knowing that I had to decide my next option and path to take. A vacation was exactly what I needed a break from the strains of reality and what had been pulling me under over the last twelve months. I hadn’t realized how much baggage and pressure I’d been carrying for all this time along with pain and undue anxiety that had spiraled beyond its means. My life had changed being back out here. Now I was finally feeling more like the guy that had the start of a spark relighting. I just needed to keep it burning and letting it grow brighter and larger until I was finally true to myself again.

I knew one way of doing that involved my decision on what I did next and the path I chose over the next few days. If I steered myself wrong then the light would dull and I would immediately return to my pits of hell again—a place I really didn’t want to delve back into.

Number one rule: water is always essential. Thirst is your worst enemy so never turn down a refill opportunity. I took a large swig of water from one of my bottles and gulped it down before wiping my mouth with my sleeve. I grabbed the other bottle I always carry and made my way to the refill fountain and got in line.

The moment the guy in front of me stepped to the side, I smirked recognizing the wilderness guide instantly, giving him a grin as I started on instinct filling my bottles up ready for my own adventures. I was in the mood to burn some energy and take in some of those perfect views as I captured those perfect moments to memory. What could I say? My mind was like an encyclopaedia full of interesting information and facts I could relay off to someone. It was always the binder of photographs within the mind’s eye that would win the award for beauty and awe that I wish I could share with the world. An artist's dream that needed to come alive for sure. One day.

“Carlton, are you packing up for a hike?” I asked him out of curiosity and courtesy as I watched him walk over to the bench to the side of me and start to load his filled water bottles into his large rucksack. “Or just rehydrating after one.”

“I’m about to go out in the next thirty minutes or so. Last one for me,” Carlton answered as I suddenly furrowed my brow and froze making the water splash over the top of the bottle and onto my fingers.

“Fuck. I…” I immediately pulled the bottle out and screwed the lid onto the bottle and moved across to Carlton to face him. “What do you mean the last one? You’re the wilderness guide. If it’s your last one then…”

“Then there are no tours available on the limited paths or wilderness guides going to be here at Sugarloaf Knob Mountain,” Carlton announced as he leaned back against the bench after dropping his bag onto the floor. “I need some time away from the outdoors.” I nodded at his declaration. I understood those words more than the next person. “It’s just been hard to find someone qualified to do these paths and who knows the area enough.”

“What do you mean? Find someone…,” I asked Carlton as my ears piqued at his words. “Carlton…”

“Let me show you. Follow me,” he uttered as the two of us made our way inside the wooden cabin.

Maybe this vacation was meant to be so much more than a break away… Maybe it’s actually everything I’ve been looking for after all.

I loved being a wilderness guide. It was exactly what I needed to do with my life. If you’d asked me a year ago if I’d be living out in the great outdoors doing this—I’d have laughed and wondered if you’d hit your head. Now though I couldn’t be anywhere else.

Officially, I’d had the hard conversation with my brother and surprisingly, even though I had panicked that he may have reacted badly at my decision to stay out here, he was actually really supportive of me. I soon learned though that was because he wanted a favor from me—he wanted me to take Arlo’s and Ollie’s sister, Cora and Lilia with their friends out for a celebration break for the end of year break at Lakewood Creek Private Falls Academy. How could I refuse a request from him after all he’s done for me?

It would also be nice to get some ammunition to use against the guys whilst they were out here—a win-win for me, I guess.

From the moment they arrived it was like they knew the task they had been assigned. I was fair but I would push them out here to get the most from their experience out here and they would appreciate it in the long run from me.

“Welcome all, I’m Jesse and I’m your wilderness guide for the next week, as you may have guessed finding a signal around here is going to be hard. To note you can find one normally—scarcely at the end of that road.”

I didn’t expect though on day two for everything to change and my life to be upended when I’d just thought I was beginning to feel some peace.

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